An Act relative to school bus safety

This bill requires all school buses transporting students in Massachusetts to be equipped with seatbelts for every permanent seat. The law applies to public, charter, vocational, private, and parochial schools, as well as any private companies contracted to provide transportation services. To enforce this, transportation providers must file a notice with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education confirming that their buses meet federal safety standards. The requirement takes effect one year after the bill is passed, though existing contracts must notify the department of compliance as soon as seatbelts are installed.